Purrier races to third at NCAA track championships

Vermont native and University of New Hampshire redshirt sophomore Elle Purrier raced to third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA track and field championships Saturday.(Photo: Free Press file)Buy Photo

EUGENE, Ore. - Vermont native Elle Purrier nabbed third in the 3,000-meter steeplechase to earn another All-American honor at the NCAA track and field championships Saturday.

Purrier, the former Richford High School star who competes for the University of New Hampshire, finished with a time of 9 minutes, 47.71 seconds to seize her fourth All-American honor. Purrier's UNH teammate, Laura Rose Donegan, raced to sixth.

New Mexico's Courtney Frerichs was the event winner, cruising to a meet-record performance of 9:24.41.

After finishing seventh in this event at last year's championships, Purrier has since qualified for the Olympic Trials in steeplechase, taken third at the indoor mile and won three events (1,500, 800, 4x800) at the America East Conference meet.

Purrier, a redshirt sophomore, advanced to Saturday's final by winning the East regional meet two weeks ago and then finishing with the top qualifying time in Friday's semifinal heats.

Purrier will return to Hayward Field in July for the Trials.

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